smith



ARTHUR J. SMITH, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAIRPIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed May 7. 1919. Serial 110.295.286.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hairpins, of which the following is a specification.

An object of the invention is to produce a hair pin, which like some pins now in use, is made up from a single piece of resilient material but differing from the other pins in that the pin is made up from a single piece of resilient material of uniform cross sectional dimension, except at one point only.

Another object of the invention is to produce a hair pin, which, as stated, is like some hair pins now in use, consisting of undulated prongs extending` from the bight or upper curved portion, in approximately parallel relation. But the bight is the only point at which the material from which the hair pin is constructed is not of the same uniformity, and at which point the material is flattened so as to reduce to a minimum the deterioration now experienced in the use of pins. The prongs of the pins are brought together to assume their normal position with respect to each other, regardless of the number of times that the pin is put to use.

Another object of the invention is to produce a pin which may be easily inserted in the hair to give the desired eect, that is, to hold the strands of hair in place at all times and hence a sightly and neat coiffure is the result. The simplicity of the construction is what makes it possible to manufacture the pins in great quantities at a low cost, as it requires but a very simple operation to flatten each pin at the proper point, moreoever, the twisting and bending at the bight of the pin is obviated.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, has beenillustrated, a single and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired.

' In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of the hair pin.

Fig. 2 is anv enlarged side elevation of the upper portion thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that I have shown a Pin of very simple design. The numeral 1, designates a single piece of resilient material such as wire, of any desired kind. The wire is bent to provide prongs 2 2, which extend from the upper curved portion or bighu designated by the numeral 8. The prongs 2 2, are each provided with crimps or convexities 4 4. The convexities of one prong oppose the convexities of the other prong, as clearly shown in the drawing, and the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. The lower extremities of the prongs 2 2 are curved outwardly as at 5 to permit of the ready insertion of the pin into the hair.

In the construction, the in is pressed or pinched to give to the ight 3, a flattened portion, as at 6.

Aside from the mentioned flattened por tion 6, the wire from which the pin is constructed, is uniform throughout. The convexities of the prongs 2 2 which oppose each other, are brought together to form loops for the strands of hair. The hair, or strands thereof are made to pass into the loo-p so formed and with but a slight manipulation o-f the pin. The hair, in passing into the loops only temporarily spreads the prongs the flexing or spreading action occurs along the prongs. The flexing in the plane of the prongs does not occur at the bight owing to the flattened portion which has the tendency to cause the prongs to retain their original and normal relation.

The flattened ortion 6, in the preferred form, is formed by pinching the inner portion only of the bight, leaving the outer portion with its original curvature as seen in Fig. 3 and giving the bight a cross section which is substantially T-shaped. This renders the bow or bight of the pin round on the exterior so that it has the usual appearance when employed in the hair, and avoids the presence of edges or corners on the exterior which may injure the operators fingers or a hair ribbo-n or hat. Moreover it is Well known that structural members of T-shaped cross section have greater strength than those which are nearly Hat, and resist bending Therefore by pinching or compressing the inner side of the bow or bight4 and leaving the' outer side of its original formation, I gain the combined advantages mentioned.

What I claim is:

The herein described hair pin Whose ,opies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

both laterally and edgewise.'

prongs and bight are formed of Wire round in cross section. throughout, excepting that the inner side of the bight is iattened or compressed so as to render it thin and narroW between the inner faces of the prongs and leave it rounded on its outer face, for use as substantially hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aiiiXed my signature.

ARTHUR J. SMITH.

Washington, G. 

